Line英会話クラス

Lesson Plan June 13, 2025

Topic: Comparatives & Superlatives

In this lesson we will learn how to form and use the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.

Section A

Words with one syllable

• Comparative form; add -er

  • cheap —> cheaper

  • hard —> harder

• Superlative form; add -est

  • cheap —> cheapest

  • hard —> hardest

Two-syllable words ending in -y

• Comparative form; change -y to -ier

  • early —> earlier

  • lucky —> luckier

• Superlative form; change -y to -iest

  • early —> earliest

  • lucky —> luckiest

Two or more syllables

• Comparative form; use more …

  • expensive —> more expensive

  • boring —> more boring

• Superlative form; use most …

  • expensive —> most expensive

  • boring —> most boring

Adverbs ending in -ly

• Comparative form; use more …

  • quickly —> more quickly

  • simply —> more simply

• Superlative form; use most …

  • quickly —> most quickly

  • simply —> most simply

Section B

After comparatives, you can use than.

• The bus is cheaper than the train.

Before comparative forms, you can use much / a lot / far (= a lot) / a bit / a little / slightly

• Taking a plane is much more expensive than the train.

• Canada is far bigger than Mexico.

With these two-syllable adjectives, you can use -er / -est or more / most

• simple / clever / gentle / friendly / quiet / narrow

• Joanna is (friendlier / more friendly) than usual.

We usually use the before superlative forms.

• Taking a plane is the fastest option.

• He is one of the most interesting people I know.

• The church is very old. It’s the oldest building in town. (= it is older than all the other buildings)

• What is the longest river in the world?

• Money is important, but it isn’t the most important thing in life.

• Excuse me, where the nearest bank?

These adjectives have irregular forms

• good —> better —> best

• bad —> worse —> worst

• far —> further / farther —> furthest

We can use a superlative form without a noun, if that noun has been mentioned already in the sentence.

• Luke is a good player, but he isn’t the best in the team. (the best = the best player)

• The film was very bad. I think it’s the worst I’ve ever seen. (the worst = the worst film)

• A: What is the most unusual thing you've ever eaten?
  B: The most unusual was probably bee larvae.